Experts by Experience

Our Experts by Experience project, funded by the Department of Health, is dedicated to providing a voice for disabled people. We run regular consultations in our computer suite at The Vassall Centre in Fishponds, which are an opportunity for disabled people to provide feedback on a wide range of subjects such as healthcare provision, access to shared use paths, housing and parking.

These consultations are open to all disabled people in Bristol and the surrounding areas and we cover travel expenses for those who are able to attend. During the sessions we have support available for those with less experience with computers to enable them to have full access and contribute to the discussion.

Please see below for details of the first four monthly consultations. All consultations take place at WECIL’s Work Club, The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, BS16 2QQ. If you would like to attend one of our sessions then please sign up online using this Google form. Alternatively please contact Duncan Stokes by phone on 0117 9479958 or email duncan.stokes@wecil.co.uk

10 – 12 Friday 18th November NHS Patient and Public Participation Policy Feedback Session This two hour session will incorporate a discussion and an opportunity to give views on the NHS’s Patient and Public Participation Policy. The session will involve looking through the policy and then using the NHS online consultation tool to provide feedback. For those who are not confident with technology we will have volunteers on hand to help people use the online feedback tool.

10 – 12 Friday 16th December2016 Bristol Council Tenant Involvement Feedback Session Bristol City Council are consulting to develop a new Tenant Participation Strategy and Action Plan for the next three years and WECIL wants to make sure that disabled council tenants’ voices are heard during this consultation. We will be facilitating a two hour session for people to read the action plan and use the Council’s online tool to provide feedback. Support will be available for people who are not confident in using computers.

10 – 12 Friday 27th January 2017 NHS Web Presence Feedback Session The NHS is currently consulting on its use of email, Twitter, LinkedIn and its website. This two hour session will be a chance for disabled people in Bristol to give feedback to the NHS about how accessible and user friendly their web presence is. We will collate the responses and provide support for people to fill out online surveys.

10 – 12 Friday 17th February 2017 Access in Bristol SessionThis session will look at Bristol City Council’s & South Glos Council’s consultation hubs and identifying any areas which relate to access. Again the session will involve peer support to collate people’s responses and input them into the consultation hub.

Consultations to gather the views of disabled people in Bristol

We are always open to getting involved in further consultations and if you would like input and views from WECIL’s community of disabled people, please contact duncan.stokes@wecil.co.uk to discuss the possibility of running a consultation session with us.